NEETBotanyAnatomy of Flowering Plants
What is the outermost protective layer of a leaf?
Options
- AEpidermis
- BMesophyll
- CVascular system
- DBundle sheath cells
Correct answer
A. Epidermis
Step-by-step solution
The vertical section of a dorsiventral leaf through the lamina shows three main parts, namely, epidermis, mesophyll and vascular system. The epidermis which covers both the upper surface (adaxial epidermis) and lower surface (abaxial epidermis) of the leaf has a conspicuous cuticle . The abaxial epidermis generally bears more stomata than the adaxial epidermis. The latter may even lack stomata. The tissue between the upper and the lower epidermis is called the mesophyll. Mesophyll, which possesses chloroplasts and